CPED Convenings

Convening large group

Call for Learning Exchange & Workshop Proposals + Registration Open for the #CPED22 Convening!

#CPED22 Convening Logo

Mark your calendars — CPED is returning to in-person convenings this year! CPED is excited to share that the #CPED22 Convening will be hosted by the University of Pittsburgh School of Education in CPED's home city, Pittsburgh at the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown from October 12-14, 2022.
The Convening registration is now open!
In case you missed it, February 2022 marked CPED's 15th anniversary! The CPED convening was last hosted in Pittsburgh in 2017 for our 10th anniversary. We're very excited to welcome our colleagues back to HQ's home for this special anniversary and for our first in-person convening since 2019.


More details on the convening theme, call for learning exchange proposals, and registration information will be coming soon. We're looking forward to seeing you at the #CPED22 Convening!

“The convening has been an eye opening experience. Transformational.”

– Dr. Godfrey Saunders, Montana State University at the October 2016 Convening.

What is a CPED Convening?

The signature activity of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate is a “Convening.” The term is meant to convey:

  • These meetings are different from traditional conferences, and
  • The central feature is coming together to learn and share.

How CPED has Impacted Members from CPED Initiative on Vimeo.

Key Features That Make a Convening Unique:

Convening large group exchangeIdea Centered: Proactive ideas are always at the heart of a CPED convening as a starting point for conversations that might have otherwise turned rapidly to the logistical or political. 

Mix of Pedagogies: We attempt to utilize a mixture of formats, including large group sessions, campus teamwork time, structured small groups, networking, presentations, and social occasions. 

Multiple Voices: CPED convenings are deliberately structured to include many opportunities for participants to engage with one another and with the central themes of the meeting, and so it is important that everyone be able to participate fully.

Unstructured Conversations: We seek to provide many opportunities to mix participants and allow for making professional and personal connections.

High Expectations: CPED sets high expectations and asks each convening participant complete “pre-work” (assignments that relate to the convening theme) in advance of attending the convening.

Critical Friends: In CPED, the role of critical friends is to support and empower each other by demonstrating a positive regard for people and providing an informed critique of processes and practices (Swaffield, 2005). To this end a set of Convening Norms of Engagement have been established by our members to foster this unique environment.

Professional Development for Faculty

Convenings offer members the following types of professional development sessions:

Learning Exchanges: Break out session that provide members the opportunities to both lead learning exchanges and have the option to select among sessions that will be more beneficial to their home campus work.

Full Consortium Exchanges: All members come together to work on developing CPED ideas as well as address CPED governance issues.

Interested in Presenting at a Convening?

Our Learning Exchanges and Workshops provide a unique interactive educational experience with deliverables that our members can use to improve their EdD programs. Members who are interested in presenting at a Convening are encourage to review these tips for presenters.

Agendas and Resources from Previous Convenings

CPED members may download and view agendas from previous convenings. Many resources from convening exchanges are archived in our Resource Center. Find an exchange you would like to know more about? Type the title into our website search bar to find the exchange in our Resource Center.

Past Convening Agendas

Resource Center for 2020 Convening on Reimagining the Dissertation in practice